Cubs sign Craig Kimbrel (3 years / $43 million)

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Seriously. The "owner is taking us for a ride" schtick has to end. It's incorrect, dumb, and embarrassing. We have one of the best owners in sports. What he's trying to do is extremely difficult.

[Eye Black]

Regarding the payroll discrepancies on pitching, it wasn’t meant to be a pot shot at the Brewers by any means. The Cubs have spent a lot of money on pitching, and I think that has been part of their plan all along (develop position players and pay for pitching). It hasn’t always appeared to be money well spent for them, but as we sit here in early June they have the third best team ERA in the National League behind only the Dodgers and Reds (those are the only three teams with sub-4.00 ERAs). I think Kimbrel was a very good addition for them, but it certainly isn’t without risk, either.

[pacopete4]

So you're saying our owner and GM is smarter? I can get on board with that!

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Some people are talking about 30-40 inning relief pitcher like they just acquired early 2000s Barry Bonds. It's insane.

[brooks_quichenick]

Some people are talking about 30-40 inning relief pitcher like they just acquired early 2000s Barry Bonds. It's insane.

 

I mean, he’s one of the greatest closers of all time. Trying to downplay it like the Cubs didn’t just get better is silly. They addressed one of their only real weaknesses.

[Brew crew 92]

Seriously. The "owner is taking us for a ride" schtick has to end. It's incorrect, dumb, and embarrassing. We have one of the best owners in sports. What he's trying to do is extremely difficult.

 

Why is that in quotation’s?

 

Yes, he’s not a bad owner.

There are much much worse owners> Nutting comes to mind immediately

 

But when you say you will bank money and spend when extremely competitive, we’ll then do it.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Of course they got better, and I wish we'd gotten him, but this isn't like, throw in the towel material. I remember people calling into Chicago radio proclaiming the season over when we got CC Sabathia. It's just so over the top.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Seriously. The "owner is taking us for a ride" schtick has to end. It's incorrect, dumb, and embarrassing. We have one of the best owners in sports. What he's trying to do is extremely difficult.

 

Even if there was some truth to the "lying owner" narrative, what would be the logical response as a fan base? Show up at Attanasio's house with torches and pitchforks?

 

No ... if you are that incensed with ownership and the team's leadership structure, your only recourse as a fan is to stop buying merchandise, and stop going to games. Basically boycott. That would probably include ceasing all posting on websites dedicated to hardcore fans of said franchise as well.

 

I guess I prefer to root for the guys we do have, and continue to hope that this already good team continues to improve.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Seriously. The "owner is taking us for a ride" schtick has to end. It's incorrect, dumb, and embarrassing. We have one of the best owners in sports. What he's trying to do is extremely difficult.

 

Why is that in quotation’s?

 

Yes, he’s not a bad owner.

There are much much worse owners> Nutting comes to mind immediately

 

But when you say you will bank money and spend when extremely competitive, we’ll then do it.

 

Have you considered for even a millisecond the possibility that they may not feel he is worth a certain amount due to their own scouting of him/risk of age/decline?

 

Why is it immediately penny pinching every time they don't get a player you want?

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

But when you say you will bank money and spend when extremely competitive, we’ll then do it.

 

Moose, Grandal and Lorenzo Cain say hi

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Those don't count because they don't support the decision he's already made that Mark A is hoarding dollar bills.

[Bulldogboy]

I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. Brewers could have done it had they wanted to do so. That said it is probably more than they wanted to spend and other moves would be limited. The biggest problem I see is this team is in a win now mode but isn't being run that way. It's being run kinda in between. In between never works. Who on this team is going to be a productive member in 2 years? Outside of Arcia and Yelich I can't see anyone. The future is murky at best so why not put it all out there now and make a run at it this year. Even if you somehow hold off the Cubs are you beating the Dodgers with what you have? Kimbrel helps you this year and next. The farm system seems a bit dry position player wise outside of Keston. When is the last time this organization made two playoffs in a row? 81-82? That is ridiculous.

[pacopete4]

Isn’t the future always murky for a small market team like the Brewers? Windows come and go. This management seems like they are pretty intelligent so I feel good with the situation and the future.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Making the playoffs is really hard. You're essentially talking about making the conference semis in a comparable sport. Still should probably happen consecutively in 40 years, but very, very hard in a no-cap league. I think they will break that streak this season though.

[JosephC]

Have to admit, when I first logged in yesterday the first thing I saw was "Kimbrel (3 years / $43 million)" and the first thoughts that flashed in my head was how stupid the Brewers just were for likely blowing all the money they had left on a guy that would probably only pitch 35 innings this year and make it very hard to sign up another quality catcher for next year.

 

I was simply delighted when the next thing I saw was the word "Cubs."

[MrTPlush]

Those don't count because they don't support the decision he's already made that Mark A is hoarding dollar bills.

 

What is really tiring is the fact some always seem to start complaining in moaning after not spending on a specific player in December or in freakin' June. We have till the end of July to make moves to improve this team and it is quite likely one or more of those moves will add quite a bit to this current payroll. I just don't get complaining about payroll and how much we spend on any given year when there is still nearly two months to add significant payroll if seen fit.

 

It is all fine and dandy to feel like we have more payroll space, but why act like it is August 1st when it isn't? There is more time and Kimbrel was not the only person available this year. R-E-L-A-X people. I trust this management to spend money if they need to and make moves mid-season to make a push. It is completely fine if we miss out on the first major addition...I would rather be wise than first.

[wallus]

You guys, use the ignore feature. It works great unless you keep quoting him.

[Lathund]

Spending $16m AAV on a reliever, no matter how good, is no way to run a team without infinite money. Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers etc can do that, but when that $16m is at best (If payroll increases by another $35m...) 10% of your payroll and you already have two (Though one is injured this year) great late-inning guys, you are paying a lot for a very marginal gain. Using that $16m to extend Grandal, or some other equivalent position player move, is a much better use of it. As would spending it on Keuchel. This isn't so much about Kimbrel himself, he would make every single team better than they are. But how much better, and what the financial impact is, differs a lot between teams. It makes sense for the Cubs (Like it would have for the Phillies, Braves etc too), but not for the Brewers.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

You guys, use the ignore feature. It works great unless you keep quoting him.

 

It is a great feature, which I've employed to great success, especially in the IGTs.

 

But when someone literally takes over multiples threads a day, it tends to make those threads pretty choppy to follow. It is certainly a solid option, though.

[Brew crew 92]

Isn’t the future always murky for a small market team like the Brewers? Windows come and go. This management seems like they are pretty intelligent so I feel good with the situation and the future.

 

Exact same words I spoke during the Harry Dalton Bud Selig time period.

 

Still waiting.

[pacopete4]

Isn’t the future always murky for a small market team like the Brewers? Windows come and go. This management seems like they are pretty intelligent so I feel good with the situation and the future.

 

Exact same words I spoke during the Harry Dalton Bud Selig time period.

 

Still waiting.

 

Then keep waiting and stop whining. Either it happens, or it doesn't. But this ownership is giving it hell trying to win. If you can't see that and enjoy this period of time in Brewers history, I don't know what to tell ya anymore.

[Brew crew 92]

Seriously. The "owner is taking us for a ride" schtick has to end. It's incorrect, dumb, and embarrassing. We have one of the best owners in sports. What he's trying to do is extremely difficult.

 

Why is that in quotation’s?

 

Yes, he’s not a bad owner.

There are much much worse owners> Nutting comes to mind immediately

 

But when you say you will bank money and spend when extremely competitive, we’ll then do it.

 

Have you considered for even a millisecond the possibility that they may not feel he is worth a certain amount due to their own scouting of him/risk of age/decline?

 

Why is it immediately penny pinching every time they don't get a player you want?

 

Answer’s to both questions:

 

1.) yes

 

2.) it is about the profit

[tmwiese55]

Follows/roots for the smallest market team in MLB then complains about it being the smallest market team in MLB. It is what it is, we know what we have here.

[Brew crew 92]

I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. Brewers could have done it had they wanted to do so. That said it is probably more than they wanted to spend and other moves would be limited. The biggest problem I see is this team is in a win now mode but isn't being run that way. It's being run kinda in between. In between never works. Who on this team is going to be a productive member in 2 years? Outside of Arcia and Yelich I can't see anyone. The future is murky at best so why not put it all out there now and make a run at it this year. Even if you somehow hold off the Cubs are you beating the Dodgers with what you have? Kimbrel helps you this year and next. The farm system seems a bit dry position player wise outside of Keston. When is the last time this organization made two playoffs in a row? 81-82? That is ridiculous.

 

Really good post.

 

You won’t get much of a response, because it’s hard to argue against your more than reasonable take.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Answer’s to both questions:

 

1.) yes

 

2.) it is about the profit

 

Seems like paying Grandal $18 million would hurt profit. You won't address that, gee, I wonder why.